US Steps up Calls for Transition in Egypt
VOA News January 30, 2011
The United States is stepping up calls for change in Egypt after nearly a week of massive demonstrations, chaos and violence engulfing one of America’s closest allies in the Arab world.
For days, U.S. officials have reiterated America’s long-standing policy of encouraging political reform in Egypt. Appearing on U.S. television, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton did so again in the most direct terms so far.
"We want to see a transition to democracy. And we want to see the kind of steps taken that will bring that about."
Clinton spoke on Fox News Sunday.
The secretary of state did not call for the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak, but appeared to suggest that Egypt’s current political and economic structure is untenable.
"Real stability rests in democracy, participation, economic opportunity. How we get from where we are to where we know the Egyptian people want to be and deserve to be, is what this is about now."
While stepping up calls for change, Secretary Clinton warned against anarchy and radicalism.
"I do not think anyone wants to see instability, chaos, increasing violence. We also do not want to see some takeover that would lead not to democracy, but to oppression and the end to the aspirations of the Egyptian people."
Meanwhile, Egypt’s ambassador to Washington, Sameh Shoukry, acknowledged his country is, in his words, "going through a difficult time." But speaking on ABC’s This Week program, he stressed Egypt was already on a path to reform before protests began.
"Freedom of expression has been guaranteed. Egypt has been on the road of economic, political, democratic reform for the last 20 years or more, and it has achieved great strides in that regard."
The United States is urging its citizens to leave the country, and many nations are recommending against travel to Egypt, amid growing lawlessness in the country.
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